Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Feed Balance Is a Problem
The present feed supplies are estimated to be about 20 % below the needs of
cattle. The shortage is most severe in East Qara but is only about 10 % in Qamar.
The general situation is worse for the camels and goats because they receive less
supplementary feed, which accounts for only 11 % of their needs. The overall
feed shortage for them is about 30 % for whole area. It is worse in the West Qara
(46 %) than in Qamar (8 %). The population is estimated as 36,386 consisting of
32,157 Omanis and 4,229 expatriates. The estimated zonal distribution is 5,810 in
Qamar (4,983 Omanis and 826 expatiates). 15,975 in West Qara (13,952 and 2,023)
and 14601 in East Qara (13,222 and 1,379). The majority of the employees are
from Bangladesh and India, and undertake the feeds, watering and cleaning for the
livestock, with the head of household doing the milking, transport of water and the
buying and selling of stock and feed. Hired labor is less common in Qamar than in
Qara Fig. 19.2 .
Tab les 19.1 , 19.2 , 19.3 and 19.4 set out the key statistics on population, livestock
inventories, and feed supply and demand.
7
Case Studies
7.1
Detailed Land Use Study in Jabal Dhofar
The Jabals (Mountains) of Dhofar benefit from the monsoon rainfall, and their
natural vegetation is grassland and woodland. The Jabals supported large herds
of cattle, camels and goats. Recently, there has been a considerable increase in
livestock numbers, and the Jabals are now overstocked and overgrazed. The aim of
this study, “conducted and finalized by Travers Morgan (Oman) Ltd, is to develop
a detailed land use policy for the area, with particular emphasis on the ecological,
environmental, social and economic aspects of the pastoral sector”. The survey area
stretches from Khadrafi in the West to Hino in the East, and from coast to the desert
fringes of the Nejd in the north. The whole of Jabal Al Qara and Qamar and the
South-western end of the Jabal Samhan are included. It also includes the Jerbeeb
(Coastal Plain) and foot of the main scrap of Jabal Al Qara and the Western Part of
Marbat (The land use study in Jabal Dhofar).
The study concluded the following:
The situation in Jabal Dhofar can be seen as the result of changes to an integrated
social, economic and ecological system, that used to be none or less in dynamic
equilibrium with its physical and biotic environment, but is now been disturbed by
external events, such as the rapid economic and infrastructural development since
1990s. The positivity of these social impacts of the development is good education
and health services and modern infrastructure one is already in place and others are
being continually improved.
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